Turkey’s Wildfire Response Exposes Regional Vulnerabilities and Government Shortcomings

As wildfires rage across Turkey and spill into neighboring Syria, the unfolding disaster exposes not only the devastating power of nature but also glaring lapses in government oversight and infrastructure maintenance that demand urgent scrutiny.Since June 26, Turkey has been grappling with numerous wildfires fueled by soaring summer temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity—a predictable seasonal pattern exacerbated by climate change. Yet this natural phenomenon meets an avoidable obstacle: a lack of robust preparedness measures. The Turkish authorities themselves admit that many fires, especially in Izmir province, were ignited by faulty power lines. How long will Turks tolerate preventable disasters...